An illustration of several modes of teaching
Higher education teaching happens in many different contexts

Informatics Teaching Guide

by Amy J. Ko

1st edition

Teaching is hard, especially in higher education, where few people have a formal training in learning, teaching, or education. I wrote this book to support the teachers in the University of Washington Information school who lack training in teaching, providing a personal, but also evidence-based understanding of teaching and learning. It shouldn’t take more than 1 hour to read, and should provide the knowledge you need to structure your practice as a teacher.

I hope you enjoy! If not, please file an issue on the book’s GitHub repository.

Chapters

An illustration of two different classroomsChapter 1

Overview

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
A line drawing of Informatics students gathering in front of the columns.Chapter 2

Students

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
An illustration of databases, code, questions, and networksChapter 3

Curriculum

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
The University of Washington block logo.Chapter 4

Rules

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
An illustration of many students and the contents of one’s head.Chapter 5

Learning

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
An illustration of a teacher in front of a classroomChapter 6

Teaching

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
An illustration of a course website.Chapter 7

Courses

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
An illustration of grade points corresponding to progressively happy smiley faces.Chapter 8

Grading

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
An illustration of two people having an argument.Chapter 9

Conflict

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }
Four panels showing a teacher reaching successively more students.Chapter 10

Practice

function($$renderer5) { $$renderer5.push(`<span class="etc svelte-g71yi0">`); Muted($$renderer5, { children: ($$renderer6) => { if (editable) { $$renderer6.push("<!--[0-->"); Toggle($$renderer6, { on: chapter.isForthcoming(), save: (on) => setChapter(edition, chapter, chapter.asForthcoming(on)), children: ($$renderer7) => { $$renderer7.push(`<!---->${escape_html(etc)}`); } }); } else { $$renderer6.push(`<!--[-1-->${escape_html(etc)}`); } $$renderer6.push(`<!--]-->`); } }); $$renderer5.push(`<!----></span>`); }

References

Everything cited

Index

Common words and where they are

Search

Find where words occur

Media

Images and video in the book

Acknowledgements

Thank you to my many colleagues who’ve offered feedback on the book.

License

Creative Commons Attribution-NoDeriviatives 4.0

Print

Want to print this book or generate a PDF? See all chapters on a single page and then print or export. Long books can take some time to render.

E-book

Reading on an e-reader? Build an EPUB of this book. Images are shrunk to fit the size you choose, so pick the one closest to your device. Long books with many images can take a minute.

Citation

Amy J. Ko (2026). Informatics Teaching Guide. …, retrieved 9/12/2026.